Up in the
northwestern corner of British Columbia is a river rated as one of the
seven best whitewater runs in the world. The river is the Tatshenshini.
Not only is it an exciting rafting river, but it is also a UNESCO World
Heritage Site. The Tatshenshini River combined with the Alsek River
watershed is a Class A' provincial park. This means there can
be no development within this park area.

The Tat
starts in southwestern Yukon, flowing south into BC. It slices through
the St. Elias and Fairweather mountain ranges and joins the Alsek River
to rush into the Pacific Ocean. It carries more water than the Colorado
River. More than eight million hectares (nineteen million acres) of
land are linked with Canadian and US national parks to form the largest
international protected area in the world.

This region
is significant for many reasons. It is home to the world's largest non-
polar icefields and Canada's only population of glacier bears (a rare
blue-black species of the black bear). The Tat is a major salmon river
and along the banks are wildlife
such as woolly mountain goats, Dall sheep, wolves, moose, ermines, beavers
and a large number of grizzly bears. Canada geese, hawks, gyrfalcons,
wandering tattlers, tree swallows, willow ptarmigans and bald eagles
are part of the different birds
found within this wilderness park. Low-bush cranberry, wild celery and
wild cucumber are natural plant
life along the Tat.

In total,
the 260 km (161 mi.) river journey attracts whitewater kayakers and
rafters from all regions of the world. When the Tatshenshini joins the
Alsek River, its whitewater to the extreme. Huge clunks of glacial ice,
large rapids, waves, canyons and rocks must be negotiated, this is not
a river for the weak and timid. Raft trips can be arranged with experienced
and qualified guides on all or just portions of the run. For raw pristine
wilderness, glaciers, grizzlies and the ultimate in whitewater rafting,
the Tatshenshini/Alsek is your answer.

Stikine
means a great river' in Tlingit language . . . and it truly is
one of the great rivers of North America. The
Stikine starts in the Cassiar Mountains high up in the Spatzizi
Plateau Wilderness Park and is approximately 640 km (400 mi.) long,
cutting through the mountains to head to the Pacific Ocean. It starts
by flowing east, makes a big arc north, then continues to the west and
finally heads south to the ocean. As the Stikine enters the ocean near
Wrangell, Alaska it forms a large delta to become an important salmon
spawning ground.

The Stikine,
with its stretches of whitewater, has a reputation of being one of the
best whitewater rafting rivers in the world. From the headwaters at
Tuaton Lake, the river drops 1370 metres (4,500 feet) before it reaches
the ocean. No one has run the full length of the river, because of the
Grand Canyon. Canada's largest, the Grand Canyon is 96 km (60 mi.) long.
This stretch of torrent water rages through narrow rock cliffs that
are up to 300 metres (985 feet) high. Mountain goats are the only animals
that can successfully climb and live in this region. Grizzly bears and
caribou inhabit the surrounding plateau. Rafting on the Stikine is done
above and below the Canyon. This is whitewater rafting that is lean
and mean with rapids, eddies, pools, steep drops, rocks and sweepers.

First time
and experienced rafters can enjoy the excitement of running the Stikine
with fully qualified guides and outfitters. These top notch establishments
offer trips that they personalize to meet your ability and high energy
levels. Whitewaer rafting outfits cater to persons wishing to run the
Stikine from start to finish (except the canyon), or to raft the upper
section, or just the lower section. The options are yours. Enjoy the
remote wilderness and the exuberance of running one of the best, the
Stikine River in the North by Northwest region of BC.

The
Babine River (North by Northwest):

Located
north and east from Smithers, the
Babine River, known as one of the world's greatest steelhead rivers
is also a world class whitewater river. The river starts at Babine
Lake and flows through scenic wilderness country and into the Skeena
River. Like other rafting rivers in BC, the Babine, offers excitement
and thrills such as the Grizzly Drop. It has all the necessary items
to make it a top notch river run.

The Babine
River is an excellent rafting river and operators work from June to
September offering whitewater trips. Guides
and outfitters who know the region feature customized runs for the
novice and the experienced rafter. Spectacular scenery, abundant wildlife
and stirring whitewater make the Babine River an absolute must run.